Kensington Palace has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century.
Today it is the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; the Duke and Duchess of Kent; and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
The original early 17th-century building was constructed in the village of Kensington as Nottingham House for the Earl of Nottingham. William III aquired it from his heir in 1689 and had it remodelled by Sir Christopher Wren. The King wanted a residence near London but away from the smoky air of the capital because he was asthmatic.
Before1760, Kensington Palace was the favourite Royal residence of many monarchs and it continued with its royal connections after then, although, no King or Queen lived there again. It was here that a young Victoria was born and later told that her uncle had died and she was now Queen.
The present Queen's grandmother was born at the palace and in 1981 apartments 8 and 9 were combined to create the London residence of the newly married Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana. It remained the official residence of Diana, Princess of Wales after her marriage and until the day of her death.
Currently open to the public is Apartment 1A, which belonged to the late Princess Margaret. The tour explains the history of Apartment 1A, from the time of the Duke of Sussex through to Princess Louise then to the most recent Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon.
Kensington Palace is also home to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection which contains court dress worn by members of the Royal Family from the 18th century onwards. The Collection features outfits worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, Queen Mary's wedding dress and outfits worn by the present Queen.
Admission fee charged
Open: Daily March-Oct 10.00-18.00, Nov-Feb 10.00-17.00.
Nearest Tube: Queensway, Bayswater, High Street Kensington, Notting Hill Gate.
See: Kensington Gardens and other London Areas
